The courtyard of Shrek Academy was quiet in the early morning, the sky tinged with the pale gold of dawn. Tang San stood alone on the sparring ground, barehanded, eyes closed. A fine sheen of sweat coated his skin as he practiced the first form of his Tang Sect technique—Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
Each movement was fluid, like water weaving through shadows. His steps twisted unpredictably, yet never out of rhythm. It had been days since they arrived at Shrek, and every moment was one of quiet cultivation. Though the others were resting from the trials of the entrance exams, Tang San pressed on.
The second spirit ring—absorbed in the depths of the forest—had brought more than just power. Hidden in its depths was a soul bone, the 700-year-old Fox Spirit Bone, now nestled in his left leg. It granted not only enhanced agility and charm, but a technique—Blood Refinement, one he kept hidden even from Grandmaster.
Tang San exhaled, opening his eyes. He could feel it again—that barely perceptible pulse. His body was adapting, his blood slightly denser, his strikes subtly heavier. The Blood Refinement technique didn't show in bursts—it crawled like a river slowly carving stone.
Xiao Wu emerged from the dormitory, rubbing her eyes. "You're already training?"
Tang San nodded, offering a faint smile. "Habit."
She pouted. "At this rate, you'll leave me behind."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're already fast enough to keep up."
Their eyes met for a moment—gentle, trusting. There was still innocence in Xiao Wu's gaze, but it wasn't as naive as before. She had seen Tang San bleed, fight, and break spirit beasts in battle. She was beginning to understand the sharpness behind his calm.
Soon after, Flender called for all new students to gather.
---
Inside the Academy's main hall, the six who passed the entrance tests stood in line: Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Dai Mubai.
Flender swept his gaze over them. "You are now official students of Shrek Academy. From this point forward, training will be brutal. If you don't meet our standards—out."
Tang San remained silent. He had already made peace with pain long ago.
"Starting tomorrow," Flender continued, "you will spar in rotation. Every match will be one-on-one. No restrictions."
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "No restrictions?"
"Yes. We want to see your real combat instincts. Ma Hongjun, Tang San, you two will be first."
Fatty smirked. "Don't blame me if I roast you, Tang San."
Tang San didn't reply. But deep in his mind, he already mapped five countermeasures to Ma Hongjun's flame-based martial soul.
---
Sparring Ground - Later That Day
They stood twenty meters apart. Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame flared around him, his martial soul activated, first spirit ring shimmering.
Tang San activated his Blue Silver Grass—two spirit rings gleamed, one purple, one yellow. The moment the match began, flames rushed toward him.
Tang San didn't dodge—he calculated. As the fire neared, he bent low, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to move unpredictably.
Blue Silver Grass surged forward. Not in a straight line—but curving, twisting, encircling.
Ma Hongjun's flames melted the outer layer of the vines, but by then, Tang San was already beside him, palm raised.
His hand struck Ma Hongjun's wrist—not with force, but precision—redirecting his fire at the ground. Before Fatty could recover, vines coiled around his legs and he toppled over.
The match ended in less than twenty seconds.
The onlookers were stunned. Not by brute strength—but control, prediction, and precision.
Dai Mubai nodded slightly. "He's even more dangerous than I thought."
---
Nightfall
Later that night, Tang San sat alone under a tree behind the Academy.
He unwrapped a package he had received from the fox-human agents he had planted in the nearby city—spirit beast blood, materials, rare herbs.
Each item had been acquired by the six fox-turned-humans under his command. Though not yet fully mature, they had proven their loyalty.
He used the blood slowly, triggering a faint surge through his veins. Blood Refinement began again, subtle and painful.
The bone in his leg pulsed in resonance, its fox energy synchronizing with his spirit.
A thought crossed his mind—Fox Emperor Soul Bone. It was not ordinary. It had grown since its awakening. His influence over fox-type spirit beasts had already proven true.
Still, he kept it all hidden. Not even Grandmaster knew the full truth. Not yet.
End of Chapter 43